Ohio State’s basketball players and coaches haven’t said, “Goodbye, Columbus” in a long, long time.
The Buckeyes (8-2), who play host to Kansas (9-1) at 3:15 p.m., Saturday, at Value City Arena, are 6-0 on their current nine-game homestand the school’s longest homestand since 1910.
“It’s great. If only we could do this all the time,” Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien said Thursday, referring to playing only at home. “I highly suggest it for anybody who has the opportunity to do it.”
The Buckeyes, who returned home from the Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 26 with a .500 record, have rattled off victories over Eastern Kentucky (90-44), Denver (83-46), UMass (54-51), St. John’s (71-58), Morehead State (93-62) and Robert Morris (88-46).
Home games remain against KU, Coppin State and Northwestern before the Buckeyes travel to Illinois on Jan. 6.
“It just kind of worked out this way. Last year we played at Kansas and at St. John’s. The payback games were for them to come here this year,” O’Brien said.
The Buckeyes blasted Robert Morris, 88-46, on Wednesday after pounding Morehead State, 93-62, last Saturday.
“We have made sure our guys understand we can’t be dealing with fool’s gold and thinking we are better than we are,” O’Brien said.
Remember, the Buckeyes lost Scoonie Penn, Michael Redd and George Reese off last year’s 23-7 team.
“I’m very fortunate I am coaching a group of guys that have kept their heads on right. We have a nice group,” the fourth-year OSU coach said.
The Buckeyes, who have double-figure scorers in junior guard Brian Brown (14.3 ppg) and senior center Ken Johnson (10.9), are winning with defense. OSU allows 56.1 points a game on 35.8 percent shooting.
The 6-foot-11, 235-pound Johnson he blocked nine shots versus UMass and seven against Robert Morris has 40 blocks. He needs 70 rejections to pass Penn State’s Calvin Booth as the Big 10’s all-time leading shot blocker.
“We’ve been very consistent with our defense,” O’Brien said. “The key is Ken Johnson. If you have a big guy in the lane who has the ability to block shots, it helps your team get out and get some easy baskets. The shots that are blocked pick the team up a little bit, pick up the crowd and change the whole game.
“Even though Kenny took only one shot against Robert Morris, he was the difference in the game. He blocked a couple shots real early and set the tone. It’ll be a little different on Saturday because of the number of big bodies they have.”
Johnson’s backup is 6-8 Will Dudley, who averages 6.1 points and 2.2 boards. The Buckeyes have several three-point threats including Boban Savovic (7.9 ppg) who leads the team with 16 threes in 33 tries.
“Our offense is coming around,” O’Brien said.
He would be elated with his team’s start if not for one thing.
“We’ve got one blip on the screen. When we went to Alaska, we lost to Valparaiso (67-64),” O’Brien said. “We lost to Syracuse (77-66). They played better than we did. I thought we had a chance to beat Valparaiso, but we did not finish that game off. We’ve not lost since.”
Of course, the Buckeyes haven’t left Columbus since.
What kind of reception will KU senior Kenny Gregory receive Saturday?
“I think it’ll be real positive, very, very warm,” O’Brien said of Gregory, KU’s 6-5 senior forward from Columbus, Ohio.
“I don’t know what the reception was when he decided to not come here and go to Kansas. The program was down pretty good at that point (year before O’Brien arrived).
“From all I can gather he’s a wonderful kid. Everybody seems to hold him in high regard. I think the people of Columbus obviously wish he’d come to Ohio State. But I think everybody who follows his career from a distance wishes him nothing but success.”
Gregory (stress fracture, right foot) and Luke Axtell (left ankle sprain) practiced Thursday and are listed as probable for Saturday’s game.
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